Theoretical mandate: the task

Translation of worldwide product information for aftersales products of BMW AG.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Use of a proven team of translators with years of industry experience
• Use of consistent aftersales customer terminology by using terminology databases
• Translation of product information into 10 languages

Technical realisation: special features

Since each product information document is structured according to the same template and the same layout, and similar texts are always used, we decided with our customer to switch the workflow from FrameMaker to the Smart Media Creator authoring system in 2013. As a result we were able to considerably increase authoring and translation efficiency.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Creation of application-oriented repair instructions.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Determination of the most efficient repair methods
• Minimisation of warranty and service costs

Technical realisation: special features

Well thought out and practical repair instructions benefit both the manufacturer regarding warranty claims as well as the end customer regarding service.
Meanwhile, the repair instructions have also been upgraded with animations to illustrate complex or infrequently used action steps.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To develop new solutions for product catalogues.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Simple and practical creation of graphics
• Creation of photorealistic images from 3D data 
• Conception and implementation of exhibition catalogues, product catalogues and online graphics

Technical realisation: special features

Missing parts needed to be created in 3D. Roughly 30% of the parts were redesigned.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Documentation for various devices, such as a
precision circular grinding machine for general use.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Clear and logical preparation of all contents
• Development of the layout for the operating instructions
• Conversion of the authoring process to an XML-based authoring system that reduces costs for technical documentation and translation, and takes into account the specific machines and country variations

Technical realisation: special features

Since the customer frequently offers custom adaptations for its machines, there is a wide variety of product variants. This represents a particular challenge in terms of cost-effective creation and translation of the technical documentation. By consistently using a Content Management System and applying a modular structure to all contents, it was possible to implement the documentation quickly and cost effectively.

Theoretical mandate: the task

User, installation and service documentation for different products, such as a shower-toilet.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Clear and logical preparation of all contents
• Development of the layout for the operating instructions and the installation instructions
• User-focused documentation for the global market

Technical realisation: special features

Brand communication for this renowned brand is governed by specifications and rules in order to give it a uniform and sophisticated image worldwide. Implementation of this assignment involved particularly close cooperation between authors, graphic designers and the client's product development team. Among other things, a style guide was jointly developed for the authoring and graphic design of the technical documentation.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Management and efficiency improvement of the wing mirrors product group in the aftersales area.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

Inventory of actual state: 

• Creating a knowledge-multiplier for relevant systems and processes for the project team.
• Developing a generic methodology toolbox for the procedural and technical analysis of variants as well as the reduction, management and avoidance of complexity.

3rd level support:

• Troubleshooting / root cause analysis
• Effect chain definition

Change management:

• Stakeholder analysis
• Lessons learned – market reactions

Version management – Aftersales:

• Creation of a version tree
• Coaxial display of variables for variants
• Creation of a business case
• Development of an "Add-on concept" spare parts strategy

Requirements management:

• Stakeholder scoring
• KPI development for requests from the aftersales area
• Contributing to the design of a set of rules in order to prevent inefficient complexity and variants long-term
• Requirements management 2.0 early phase

Technical realisation: special features

In this project, complexity drivers and effect chains were identified and placed in an interdependent relationship. The result was the development of a generic methodology toolbox for the procedural and technical analysis of variants. In this way the customer can solve various challenges more effectively and identify the effects of future decisions in advance. The product range is thus more steamlined, ineffective variants can be stripped away.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Joint development and integration of standard or optional accessories, for example consumer electronics and driver assistance systems.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Design space analysis
• Definition and production of sample mounts, incl. the creation of drawings
• Definition and production of sample wiring harnesses, incl. the creation of drawings
• Definition of the scope of the retrofit
• Photo documentation on the vehicle
• Creation of installation instructions incl. translation for workshops
• Creation of operating instructions incl. translation for end users

Technical realisation: special features

Particular attention was paid to the simple, rapid and thus cost-effective installation of the systems and to complete and easy to understand documentation. The development and integration of accessory products is done in our own workshop, which is fully equipped with all specialist tools – up to and including IT with an appropriate server environment. Thus vehicles can be coded and programmed under workshop conditions.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Documentation and risk assessment for a wide variety of equipment, such as gritting vehicles for use in winter, as well as manure and seed spreaders.

Consulting services and network mediation for approval and testing procedures.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Clear and logical preparation of all contents using the SMC authoring system
• Development of the layout for the operating instructions
• General and custom documentation from the SMC
• Support in research of applicable norms
• Risk assessment and EC Declaration of Conformity
• Translation
• Graphics

Technical realisation: special features

With good cooperation and networking between client, supplier and 2W, the risk assessment and research of norms found that in some cases non-compliant screws were being used. The client's development department was informed and the mistake could be corrected.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To develop and implement the documentation and data sheets for a printed circuit board.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

Clear and logical preparation of all contents

Development of the layout for the documentation

Technical realisation: special features 

Even small-scale businesses and individual entrepreneurs can benefit from our proximity to customers and years of experience in creating legally sound and standards-compliant documentation. We keep authoring costs low by using pre-packaged layout templates and well-practised processes. By outsourcing the technical documentation to us, the customer is also in a position to better use their own resources.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To develop new solutions for operating instructions and the quick and simple creation of graphics.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Creation of graphics from 3D data 
• Developing a trade fair animation based on this 
• Creating an app to demonstrate installation options
• using illustrative animations

Technical realisation: special features

The app is protected from unauthorised use and can only be installed if the user has the appropriate authorisation.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To develop new solutions for product catalogues.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Simple and practical creation of graphics
• Creation of photorealistic images from 3D data 
• Conception and implementation of exhibition catalogues, product catalogues and online graphics

Technical realisation: special features

3D graphics were created for a boat show which depict the inside of the compressors under water. The graphics were printed on film at a scale of 1:1 and then the film was placed over the equipment being depicted.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Translation and simultaneous reduction of English texts.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Logical translation of the texts, not word-for-word. The length of the text should be reduced without changing the meaning.
• Use of native speakers.

Technical realisation: special features

Our client was so pleased with the results that we were also asked to revise the English texts.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To translate catalogues, flyers and other information media in the field of animal husbandry into more than 20 languages.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Translation with translation memory technology by core translators with several years of industry experience
• Use of customer-specific translation memories
• Verification of terminology with the customer in the market
• Creation of translation guidelines specifically adapted to the customer to guarantee uniform translation quality

Technical realisation: special features

Since the majority of the terminology in the field of animal husbandry is not a part of the general vocabulary, for Kerbl we employ a team of core translators that maintains a constantly growing terminology database. The database model was developed by students at the University of Cologne as part of a term project we sponsored led by the "terminology guru" Prof. Klaus-Dirk Schmitz.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To introduce a global translation workflow including a system solution.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Support the project from kick-off to use of the new system
• Joint workshops on the systems
• Implement test phases
• Extensive reports on test results and recommendations

Technical realisation: special features

The customer's flat hierarchies involved a thoughtful decision-making process in which we as a translation service provider could participate to a large extent.

Theoretical mandate: the task

To produce complete cable harnesses for development vehicles and vintage cars.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Assembly on the basis of the documents provided to us or created by us.
• Exclusive use of wires, contacts and connectors approved by the customer.
• Manufacture and testing of the cable harnesses according to customer specifications in OEM quality in standard, shielded and twisted versions.
• If there are up-to-date circuit diagrams, dimensional drawings and parts executions, assembly is done on the basis of this information.
• If no circuit diagrams, dimensional drawings and parts executions are available, the cable harnesses are assembled on the basis of system wiring diagrams, overall dimensional drawings and vehicle circuit diagrams.

Technical realisation: special features

If none of the documents mentioned above are available, the design of the cable harnesses can be carried out directly on the vehicle. We then create the necessary documents. These contain all information required for assembly and can subsequently be reused.

Theoretical mandate: the task

Identification of optimisation potential for service-relevant components as early as the development phase.

Practical approach: the 2W solution

• Application of our comprehensive CAD skills
• Development of corresponding improvement measures

Technical realisation: special features

By comparing the installation situation of current and future vehicle models, service-friendly component optimisations could still be carried out at the end of vehicle development and further considerations could still be taken into account for the repair instructions.